PUBLICATION ANGER BURNING EDITORIAL IT’S BEEN A WHILE SINCE THE LAST ISSUE. IT TAKES TIME. TIME TO GATHER MOTIVATION TO START UP A NEW SET OF QUESTIONNAIRES. TIME FOR THEM TO BE ANSWERED. TIME FOR THEM TO BE FORMATTED INTO A DOCUMENT TO BE CREATED AS A PDF. TIME TO TAKE ALL THAT CONTENT AND REPURPOSE IT FOR THE WEBSITE FOR SHARING. YEAH – NOT EASY AT ALL, BUT MADE ALL THE MORE ENJOYABLE WHEN YOU GET THOSE RESPONSES BACK! I’VE ALSO HAD TIME TO THINK ABOUT THE FORMATTING AND TAKEN THE DECISION THAT WHILE A MONOSPACED TYPEWRITER FONT IS COOL FOR A SHORT PIECE OF TEXT (LIKE THIS!), IT CAN BE WEARING ON THE EYES WHEN USED IN THE MAJORITY OF THE MAGAZINE. SO – I’VE TAKEN THE DECISION TO MAKE THE ARTICLES MUCH MORE READABLE BY USING A NORMAL FONT, AS WELL AS REVERTING TO A PLAIN WHITE BACKGROUND, RATHER THAN THAT PSEUDO-PHOTOCOPIED THING I HAD GOING ON. THIS ISSUE IS THE MUCH-PROMISED METAL SPECIAL AND AFTER A HIATUS OF WORKING ON ISSUE 5 OF THE ZINE, LEAVING STONEY TO DO THE VAST MAJORITY OF WRITTEN WORD WORK, IT’S GREAT TO FINALLY SEE THIS COME TO FRUITION. THERE IS A FAIR BIAS ON ONE PERSON AND HER BANDS IN THIS ISSUE. KAT GILLHAM HAS A FAIR FEW ON THE GO AND THE MAJORITY CAN ALL BE CLASSED AS METAL IN ONE SUB-GENRE OR ANOTHER. IT’S TOTAL PROOF THAT NORTHEN ENGLAND METAL IS VERY MUCH ALIVE AND KICKING. FOR THOSE OF YOU LUCKY TO GET A HOLD OF ONE OF THE FIRST RUN OF ISSUES, YOU’LL ALSO HAVE A CD OF ONE OF THE BANDS INTERVIEWED HERE. MANDORA HAVE BEEN KIND ENOUGH TO LET US HAVE THEIR FIRST ALBUM ‘REBORN’ AS A COVER DISC! IF THIS PROVES POPULAR I’LL TRY TO INCLUDE A LIMITED EDITION COVER DISC ON ALL FUTURE ISSUES. IF YOU’VE BEEN UNLUCKY AND NOT GOT ONE, SIMPLY HEAD OVER TO: HTTP://WWW.MANDORA-THE-BAND.CO.UK, SIGN UP AND YOU CAN DOWNLOAD THE ALBUM FOR FREE! ENJOY! LOVE, PEACE & ANARCHY... PAUL, JULY 26, 2018. WANT TO SAY WHAT YOU THINK OF THIS ZINE? GO TO OUR FACEBOOK PAGE OVER AT:

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PUBLICATION STAR 80s! delivering outstanding performances live and with their energy fuelled shows, it leaves everyone who witness them wanting more, easy on the ear but with a tremendous amount of kick. Mandora reformed in September 2013 after splitting in August 1987 but have quickly got back up to speed with an amazing reunion comeback gig, sold out in two weeks, with their full pyro show like back in the day. In their home town of South Shields, since then, they have gone on play further key live shows opening Brofest 3 (NWOBHM) festival alongside Hollow Ground, Mythra and Avenger to great crowd reaction during and after the show also rave reviews from national and international press. Further headlining their local Newcastle O2 academy venue, playing to a packed audience also playing the legendary Newcastle Trillians Rock Bar as headline also being asked to guest to the main headline act at the Tell us a bit about yourselves, for Seaham Carnival. those who don’t know about the Mandora make things happen live and band. have the energy of bands half they @D: Mandora are 4-piece 80s style age, they are made up of Duncan heavy metal band whose sound is a Binnie/Guitar, Sean Wilkinson/Drums, mix up but not a copycat of major acts Darren Parnaby/Bass and Paul like Metallica, Motley Crue, Judas Binyon/Vocals. Priest, Ratt, Iron Maiden to name a few. Mandora are known for

80s Style Heavy Metal at its Best, writing up even today. The band then Mandora was first formed way back in played the battle of the bands in their 1983. The first line up was Duncan own home town and were not placed Binnie lead & rhythm guitar, Sean but heard and seen a young frontman Wilkinson drums, Darren Parnaby bass that they felt would be better suited and Gary Wilkinson on vocals. This line to the band then Gary. up lasted a short period in time and A little while later Paul Binyon joined played its first show at St Hilda’s the band along with the edition of Youth Centre in South Shields on the another guitarist Dale Carson. This line 25th of March 1984 to a packed up went on to play some fantastic sell house, supporting Zig Zag who had out shows with the music maturing Wildhearts’ Ginger on guitar.

They went on from there to play a few and the image and the shows getting out of town shows at Seaham youth more and more outrageous. centre and the Cleadon church hall Eventually this gave way to the final with crazy goings-on at both shows, line-up change when another guitarist stories that would be well worth

came into the fold called Chris Beard. failed to find the right replacements This final line up went on to write and ended up just calling it a day with some further great material and play Mandora. Until of course now, as of some unbelievable shows for a band Tuesday 27th August almost 26 years that had no help from anyone, other to the day Mandora are back together than themselves. with an enthusiasm for it like back in The shows the band put on were on the day. the scale, sometime bigger or more How did that come about? Well after professional than the signed acts. many previous conversations between After playing South Shields Paul & Sean about the possibility of Amphitheatre in the summer of 87 the the band reforming & Paul asking band broke up because Duncan, Sean Duncan a few times if he wanted to and Darren felt the time was right to get Mandora back together which fell go to London and take a chance that on deaf ears until he decided the time the band would be picked up by the was right to say yes. record industry, unfortunately Chris And with the others quickly agreeing and Paul didn't want to tag along. to coming on board the band are now This really broke the band in more officially back together and looking ways than one as the lads in London forward to working hard & @D: I think the whole band have progressing. Watch this space!!! different ones. Paul’s a big Rush and Beatles fan, I'm more into Rammstein, Where does the name 'Mandora' KISS, Ratt, Barbara Streisand, ha. Sean come from? is Led Zep, and Point is Accept, Ratt @D: Came from Pandora Box, which and reggae. was a story about a woman who loved Was the idea of using special applying makeup, I myself though effects always a part of the stage because we were a makeup glam band at the time let's get rid of the P show or did they happen later? change it to an M, making it mandora @D: From the get go, I have been hence blokes putting on makeup ha. proper into the visual spectacle when playing live, as a youth the bands that did this where the ones I couldn't wait to see again and who moved me the most, the shows we put on should of not been possible based on money etc but we managed to pull it off, some incredible shows in the early days, better than bigger bands playing at the hall at the time. Not everyone will have heard of the Exploding Roadie - would you like to tell us all about it?

@D: That's a story and a half and a You've been around for some time one you need to dedicate a full mag now - how has your musical style to, lol but seriously in brief you changed over the years? couldn't make this shit up. @D: Not a lot really, as after the long Joe Stonehouse, the roadie that is break we have really just revamped working for nothing and is committed the old stuff, however we do have a to us like you think he was on £100 an few new songs but they are still very hour, goes up to sort a drum monitor much in the vain of the old ones, think problem and in the process, he gets what has changed is the way we play his head blown off. Wow, man, how them. did the camera man decide to focus What would you say your main on him, uncanny. influences have been?

How he didn't lose his sight, was When you got back together in seriously burnt, is beyond me, crazy, 2013, you were originally a 5-piece, after the show he was still but are now a 4-piece. What's smouldering, we laugh now about the happened? whole thing but there was no H&S @D: Yeah, we got together first as a 4 back then. and asked Dale the original second What acts have you supported in guitarist and Chris the third if they the past? wanting to get back together. Both @D: We didn't really support anyone, said yes they’d do it. Wow that was we were all about doing the headline crazy, really, after 27 years. gig, but coming back we supported We went with Chris because Dale had Fist, Avenger, played on Brofest other commitments with a club band alongside Hollow Ground, Mythra, and felt Chris would be the right way done Grimm Up North, supporting forward. To be honest it wasn't long Oliver Dawson’s Saxon and a host of before we realized he wasn't cutting other names, also Mearfest with a the mustard and after it getting a bit load of NWOBHM. heated he broke off.

To be honest we wish Chris well but as already know. Fuck that, going to see a 4 piece we are a lot stronger. someone they never heard, that's too much like hard work. To be honest, What would you say has been we done OK considering and what's your most challenging obstacle that mad is we can get rave reviews after you've overcame? our shows from the people attending @D: For me, getting back playing - I more so now than ever. Since we are had 20 years off ha. The band in just getting better and better the general have overcome a lot since more we play, the energy of the band getting back together but I would is incredible and that's the magic think the biggest is been able to stay sauce. together. What do you think can be done to How would you say the local bring more punters along to shows? rock/metal scene is? @D: A lot of hard work, going about @D: Bad for original music, cover selling the band to people, getting bands are everywhere, and the them to buy into it, we managed to general punters fall for it every time, sell 300 tickets at £5 for our comeback as today's world people just want the and I tell you that was not easy job, fix. In other words, something they but it paid off as the night was special in more ways than one. The problem desperate to play live beyond the is bands just expect people to come, north to see the reaction, just a that doesn't happen. money thing etc but we are getting closer to sorting out shit. You released your album Reborn - MMXIII when you got back together - how has that sold? @D: It hasn't – handfuls of copies at best. Also, the download which is free on the site is not getting accessed, a shame really as I believe it's a great piece of work considering it was recorded in 2 days live ffs, it was meant to be a demo. You're planning on releasing a new album of songs, soon. What's it called and can you tell us more about it? @D: Yes, we are due in studio around Is there anyone out there that end of June, we are doing the whole you'd like to take the time out to thing live again and the title, at the thank? momen, is 'And Life Goes On'. @D: Wow, where do we start? Maybe I must say if we capture the energy of best say nothing, but to be honest the band and the songs we will have a them people already know who they masterpiece as far as Mandora is are and we are forever grateful for concerned, it's going to be epic. I'm whatever reason they have hoping the right people hear it and we contributed and we salute you and get signed by someone who believes thank you from the bottom of our in the band, because I believe with the hearts. right promotion we could go all the way even at this old age, boom. https://www.facebook.com/mandoratheband What are your plans for taking Mandora out of the North East region? @D: We have been looking how we http://www.mandora-the-band.co.uk can get out and about, as we are

PEARLS BEFORE SWINE! The album we’ve recorded is to be called “Victims” and hopefully we’ll get it out this year...

Your 2014 demo 'Family of Swine' was great. Where was it recorded and how long did it take to record? @B: Ah cheers! We recorded it at Downcast Studios in a day, we’d rehearsed the fuck out of those tracks so it came pretty naturally to us and it flowed pretty well on the day.

Would you still consider releasing this as a maxi-single or as extra tracks for an album on CD? @B: Personally speaking, even though it’s getting on now, I’d love to see it Tell us a bit about yourselves, for released as a maxi on hard copy, those those who don’t know about the recordings captured a great vibe at band. the time and I hope that shows in the @B: We formed around 2012, in a recordings... slightly different incarnation... We Where do you draw inspiration went through a period of writing then from for the lyrics? scrapping songs and sets as we began to feel that the direction wasn’t really @B: I can only speak for myself here, true to what we wanted to achieve. but I write the majority of the lyrics, We had a 2-track demo originally that so I draw inspiration from political and had the marks of the beginnings of social issues, injustices in society and Fed To The Boars, But we feel we kind the Psychopaths that live amongst us of nailed it with the Family Of Swine and “rule” over us... I’m a huge fan of maxi single... punk and hardcore as well as , so inspiration comes from all over the place!

How did you come by the band's the movie Hannibal... Horrific, so the name? name was agreed on!

@B: This is an odd one... We’d been Your album has been awaiting trying to come up with something that release for some time now (over a captured our influences and sound for year?) - will we see it arrive in 2018? a while... Dean, our lead guitarist had @B: Ok, this has been a long time been thumbing through CDs in a coming, yes. However, we’re looking record shop, and spotted a song title, at having it out this year... Some “Fed To The Boars”. It turned out it delays have been unavoidable was by a band called Grand Supreme unfortunately... Blood Court, which features from Pestilence/Asphyx... What have been the factors in the But for me it evoked the image of delay of the album? Gary Oldman being fed to the Boars in

@B: It’s been a long process, I think What would you say are your simply because there was a lot of major influences? mixing to do and it’s difficult for @B: Mostly Swedish Death Metal, but everyone because we all work full we all have our own influences too, time and some of our band members like I say, I love punk and hardcore, as have responsibilities, but like I say, we well as grindcore so there’s a huge should get the album out this year. melting pot of influences. Are there any gigs planned to What would you say are the best celebrate the release of the album? things about the extreme metal @B: We’ll definitely do an album scene in the North East of England at launch, but we’re reluctant to do too present? many shows at the minute because @B: The best things are probably we’d like to have music to sell at gigs seeing the younger bands carrying the etc... There will be some shows torch forward, and that there’s a coming up in the not too distant pretty healthy scene if you know future, so that’s something to get our where to look. Also, it’s great to see teeth into! that some of the older bands are either still going or starting up again, I @B: All the bands we’ve played with think the local punk scene is really thus far, anyone who got the healthy, if not healthier than the download of the Family Of Swine extreme metal scene. maxi, and anyone who has supported us and shown an interest in FTTB... And what are the worst? Oh, and cheers to Anger Burning for @B: Without getting too narky about taking an interest in us and giving us stuff, I find the extreme metal scene the interview! quite cliquey, for want of a better word.

What venues have you played at? https://www.facebook.com/fedtotheboars @B: FTTB have played at a few good venues, The 13th Note in Glasgow, Retro in Manchester and a host of local gigs. Hopefully we’ll branch out a bit more when we start doing more https://fedtotheboars.bandcamp.com shows again.

Your sound is very technical old- school style Death Metal (to me) - was that a conscious decision to keep it that way? (It does work well for me anyway!) @B: I don’t think we’re that technical to be honest, we made a decision to allow our influences to show through, there’s the obvious Boss HM2 worship of bands like Entombed and Grave, but there’s also grind influences from bands like Phobia and Napalm, and there’s also the D-Beat punk influences which we love to play... Is there anyone out there that you'd like to take the time out to thank? KAT O’ NINE TALES! back then to be creating music at an early age? @K: Yes, I was 15 years old or just literally turned 16 when Morstice was formed. It was a VERY exciting time to be creating music, the underground death metal scene was VERY exciting and it was an exciting thing to be an active part of, everything seemed so fresh and I loved the personal touch of letter writing, zine making and tape trading. I probably should have worked harder at my schoolwork instead of being so immersed and active in the death metal scene, but it was also so much fun. I was still at school when we recorded the first Morstice demo and had just been kicked out of school due to lack of attendance when we recorded the 2nd demo... I should have been in school a year or 2 longer as I was only not long turned 17 when we recorded the 2nd demo! I blame death metal for leading me astray haha.

The two demos you recorded have now surfaced on CD - how did that come about? Any plans for vinyl? @K: I got in touch with one of the You were very young when you guys at Compilation Of Death zine in formed Morstice - what was it like Santiago, Chile we exchanged some emails and he expressed an interest in

putting out a discography CD featuring How many gigs did Morstice play our 3 demos, 2 of which "As My and how far did you get around the Suffering Grows" and "Reflections country? Remain" were recorded in 1993 about @K: Not too many actually. Our debut 7 months apart and the 3rd demo gig was in March 1993 at Durham City "Invoking The Storms" which was Rowing Club with a band called recorded in 1995 (I had left the band Revenant Host (who featured a friend before that was recorded). No plans from my hometown Spennymoor Jay to release the "Deathography 1992- Graham on drums who later joined 1995" on vinyl. That would be cool Skyclad/Return To The Sabbat and though of course! Ravens Creed) and the last show with Do you think that they could at the line-up that recorded both '93 some point be released? demos was in summer 1994 in Middlesbrough with Malediction if I @K: On vinyl? Hopefully! I'd like to see that happen! remember right?

We were due to support Carcass at couple gigs who were also well Bradford Rio's in December 1994 but I respected in the death metal quit the band 2 weeks before due to underground but that’s it...as I internal bullshit that was happening in mentioned above we very nearly the band which I couldn't deal with opened up for Carcass but that didn't any longer and since I scored us the happen due to the reasons I support slot and because I was so mentioned. angry I pulled the band out of it in a Were you ever approached by a teenage tantrum...looking back I label to record an album or EP? shoulda waited a bit longer, played that gig then quit the band at least, @K: Yes, Johnny Humpleby who ran haha... Wallis the lead guitarist quit Deaf Records (a sub label of Peaceville about the same time in solidarity as Records) heard our 2nd demo and he wasn't happy I quit and how I'd loved it and immediately expressed been treated by a couple members of interest in doing an album with us but the band. We were just kids, kids do again once I had quit the band his stupid things. Looking back now it interest seemed to wane...I was could have probablys been resolved friends with him too and often stayed but teenagers usually act first then / hung out at the house he shared / think later after the fact. lived at in Dewsbury with Rich "Militia" Walker(Solstice, ex Sore The farthest north we played was Throat). After initially hearing our 2nd Berwick Upon Tweed, the farthest demo he told me in a conversation in south was Nottingham, the farthest a pub in Bradford in early 1994 before east was probablys Hull and furthest a Paradise Lost gig that he loved the west we played was Bradford; the rest demo so much he wanted to release were local gigs. We didn't play live too an album, he is the guy who first much. signed At The Gates and was Did you support anyone of responsible for putting out their first notoriety or were there mainly local two albums! But Deaf Recs pretty band gigs so to speak? much ceased to exist later that year @K: We did play Bradford Rio's in and nothing happened further regarding that. October 1993 with the Doom/Death band Chorus Of Ruin who had abit of a So, it’s a shame that we never ended name for themselves at the time. We up recording a full-length album for also supported Malediction at a Deaf, that might have changed things drastically for the band and the course of the bands history and destiny...but instead the band was destined to Can you describe how the band fester in an early grave, shame really, was first put together? I know it was that band had so much talent and after your foray in death metal with potential. Morstice, so why the change in Who produced your videos? They direction? What prompted you to go look like they were fun to record. the slower doomier approach in music? @K: A friend of the band, it was done as some kind of college project. We @K: Well the band was formed in late shot the videos on the farm we 1993 when I was already in Morstice, I rehearsed at in-between Crook and was already listening to a lot of Wolsingham which was in the middle Candlemass, Trouble, Saint Vitus, of nowhere and was where our Solitude Aeturnus, Cathedral etc but I guitarist Wallis lived as his Dad owned was getting more heavily into and and ran the farm. Very cool interested in the whole doom scene atmospheric place! especially throughout 1994 and that along with personal conflicts within If you look closely there are cows in the band prompted me to quit the background on a couple shots in Morstice to focus on Blessed Realm one video for the song "Licentious instead so myself and couple friends Congress" hahaha! from my hometown who are also We used clips from "Faces Of Death" huge fans focused on on the other video for the song getting Blessed Realm moving and "Dormancy Of Dreams" which were fully active. rather gruesome! How did the Discography CD come Is this another band that at some about? Did you feel there was point could see a reformation, even enough material on the disc (I know as a one-off event perhaps? it's pretty well packed mind!)? Do @K: At this point in time that is highly you think there could have been a unlikely. The other guys have other double-CD instead with the full sets non-musical priorities, families etc. of demos and live performances or was it just a case of unit costs to produce a doubler that prevented it? https://www.facebook.com/morsticedeath

@K: Well, myself and Jonathan recordings, live stuff, Trouble cover "Sealey" Seale from the doom band that we recorded for a Trouble Tribute Iron Void who Blessed Realm played CD that was released by a Swedish some shows with back in late label in 1999. 90's/early 00's were talking backstage I know you've described in the at Doom Over Edinburgh fest in March past about the live performances of 2015 where both Uncoffined(who the band supporting typically non- then featured myself and 2 other ex Doom bands etc. Why was this? Was Blessed Realm members) and Iron it simply a case of the genre Void were playing on the same day imploding and a lack of audience or and he brought it up in conversation, I was it simply the fact of taking got Al from Scottish label At War With whatever gigs you were offered as it False Noise onboard and 2 years later was a gig? it was finally released in July 2017. @K: You have to remember that back We definitely had enough material for in the early-mid-late 90's the doom 2 discs, but we kept it at one due to metal scene was not that big various reasons and handpicked some especially in this country, there was standout tracks/recordings so there’s only a handful of bands back then quite a lot that was not included playing doom and at the time the local including other demo and rehearsal metal scene was pretty dire, almost that should have happened in 2000 non-existent band-wise, but we had where we would record some close ties and strong connections with unreleased songs, re-record some the local HC Punk scene due to my older songs as well as write some new younger brother who played drums in material but the brothers had to take Blessed Realm in a couple periods of a step back from Uncoffined last year the band throughout the 90's being for the foreseeable future due to involved with Voorhees, Manfat, personal / family reasons which Embittered and we knew a lot of the currently prevents them both from local HC crowd so we would often being active with the band so as long jump on HC bills in Middlesbrough, as they are not able to be active with Stockton etc.. they were fun shows. Uncoffined, then there will be no new We were doing pretty much what activity with Blessed Realm...but Saint Vitus were doing in the 80's everyone was into the idea of during their earlier SST days where recording an album so it is on the they ended up playing with lots of HC table and it could happen at some Punk bands. We had fun at those gigs, point in the future. It would be very good times! important to me if both brothers who are also founding members along with Could you see the band reforming myself were involved in any kind of - however long in the future? I know reanimation of the band. it's been mentioned that 'never say never' so to speak, but in terms of the practicalities of getting band members together again, is there an important 'core' of personnel that would be needed? I know that some people can deem a band a 'tribute' act if there's not enough original members... @K: Well, myself and Jonny (Lead guitar) and Garry (Bass) who formed the band and who have played together in Uncoffined were talking a couple years ago about finally recording the Blessed Realm album https://facebook.com/blessedrealmdoom

playing in various HC/Grind/Power Violence bands throughout the 90's including Revolt and Hara Kiri. You formed 12 years ago (give or take) and the band's sound and genre It is very different to the last band I is the polar opposite (to me) of what was active in before I formed Winds you had done before - what was your Of Genocide which was the doom motivation behind forming? metal band Blessed Realm. @K: Well not completely the polar Both myself and Glynn had been opposite of what myself and inactive for a few years bandwise and Glynn(guitar / co-founder of the band) we were hanging out a lot together, had done previously as I was doing drinking, listening to music and both death growls and screams in my old getting that creative itch and urge to death metal band Morstice back in the be in a band again so that was our early-mid 90's which is the same kinda motivation...one day we just agreed to vocals I do in Winds Of Genocide just form a band with the clear aim to fuse with more of a punked up edge to death metal and crust punk. It took us them and Glynn comes from a a few more years to find the right HC/Punk background anyway and was Photo courtesy of Will Bink Photography people to complete the first line up writing a 2nd full length album, slowly but we got there in the end! but very surely.

Your recorded output for the 12 I'd rather have a strong but minimal years is not huge (but awesome!) - is discography than one littered with this down to the sheer number of "fillers" and/or rushed half-hearted other projects you have ongoing? recordings/releases. @K: Well like I said since forming in Our debut album was very well early 2006 it took us another few received by both fans and media alike years until late 2008/early 2009 to be across the world and is a strong in a position to be able to start debut, we need to write a strong actively rehearsing...when we found follow up that is just as good, if not Linus (ex-drummer) and he got behind better...that will take as long as it the kit that is when things REALLY takes. started to move forward and happen. How did the split with Abigail From our debut EP in 2010 ("The come about? Arrival Of Apokalyptic Armageddon) @K: Myself and Yasuyuki from Abigail via the split tracks for the release with had been in contact for a little while, Abigail (only recorded a year later in he liked what we were doing so I put late 2011) to the debut album the idea to him as I'm a huge Abigail "Usurping The Throne Of Disease" fan, he was into it, we both had a being recorded in 2014 that is only a 4 connection with Jerasak at year period and we wrote and Witchhammer Productions in Thailand recorded 21 songs in that period so as he had released stuff by both our that was a VERY ACTIVE period for the bands previously, I put the split idea band in my opinion but since the to Jerasak, he was totally into it and debut album was recorded and agreed to release the CD version of it, released various members personal I came up with the title as a mix of and living situations have changed, both bands ("Satanik Apokalyptic families have happened, moving to Kamikaze Kommandos") both other places has happened, different Yasuyuki and Jerasak liked it and that jobs have happened, studying has was it...damn deal done! happened, new bands/musical projects has happened and some members don't have as much free time as they did before but we are

You've had a tape release Your t-shirts have been worn by containing rehearsal tracks - were some notable people - care to list you approached by Witchhammer to them out? do that or was it something you @K: (Memoriam, ex-Bolt asked them to do and the extra Thrower), Marc Grewe (Insidious tracks were added afterwards? Disease, ex-Morgoth), Jerry A (Poison @K: Yes, Jerasak at WHP approached Idea), Eric Olson (Poison Idea), Fred us via our myspace page, we thought Estby (ex-Dismember), Casey Chaos he was crazy but we also thought it (Amen) and Damien Thompson was really cool he wanted to do it so (Sacrilege/Warwound) have all worn he did a limited run of that rehearsal our shirts and been very supportive, demo on tape which is essentially a to name a few! rough raw rehearsal recording done You attract both metal and punk on a bust up 4 track with not all tracks crowds at your gigs - indeed the working! Those songs were recorded crossover is very much evident sound in the studio properly soon after for wise also. Which gigs do you find the debut EP. most entertaining or satisfactory? You've not ventured out of the UK @K: I enjoy playing in front of both with Winds of Genocide yet - do you metal and punk crowds...a good mix feel it's time to do so? of people is always healthy and good @K: YES! It most definitely is time but fun! the logistics and circumstances have Your first EP is now out of print - to be right. We need the right are there plans for that to be re- promoters/bookers onboard to make released perhaps at some point, that happen who we have yet to have maybe as extra tracks on a release of contact with...I am sure it will happen your first full-length album maybe? sooner or later. When the time is right and the label Is the travelling expense the main interest is there to reissue it, then it reason for not travelling out further? will happen. @K: That’s one of them definitely...if Any plans for vinyl releases at all? we get a good offer we'll consider it. We should be getting out there @K: Again, if the label interest further in support of the 2nd album, materialises then it will happen. when it happens.

At some point work will start on fascism so attractive to these bands your second full-length album - how do you think? is that going at the present time? @K: I am not sure why it became such @K: Slowly...but surely...we are a thing, there’s a lot of sheeple out getting close to the halfway stage there, fascism is a herd mentality and songwriting wise for album #2. But we there’s people in the extreme music don't wanna rush it for the sake of it scene who actually think its cool to and for the sake of getting more like NSBM because of the extreme product out there. When the time is controversial right wing views and right the 2nd album will be because they think it is cool to be recorded/released. edgy...that whole scene is extremely stupid...NSBM has nothing to do with While some bands may lament at true and true the thought of their albums being satanism...true satanism is the released onto YouTube, you've not antithesis of such herd mentality. The minded at all. Do you think it's just scene is full of fucking edgelords. another marketing channel and those DEATH TO FASCIST PIGS AND FASCIST who really want your physical APOLOGISTS. product will seek you out anyway? You've described the band as @K: Definitely another valuable blackened crust - can you expand on marketing channel in my opinion, I am what you mean by 'blackened' here? sure a lot of people have went out and bought releases after first hearing @K: I've never described the band as songs on YouTube just as I have. "blackened crust", other people have. Sure, there is black metal elements If people REALLY want your album on both musically and vocally, but I original and in a physical format they prefer to use the phrase "Apokalyptic will buy it no matter how much they Death Crust" which I coined in the have heard via other mediums. early days of the band to describe our YouTube is a great promotional and overall sound. marketing tool in my opinion. What's been your best You're know also for standing up performance do you think? to the NSBM (National Socialist Black @K: We've played quite a few great Metal) scene. Why do you think this shows. Hard to pinpoint just one is actually a scene at all? What makes specifically.

Is there anyone out there that @K: Our main influences are Early you'd like to take the time out to Black Sabbath, 80's Candlemass, early thank? Trouble, Saint Vitus, Dream Death, Revelation, early Penance, early @K: The labels who have made our Cathedral, Winter, Thy Grief Eternal, releases happened, the people who Runemagick, early , have bought our releases and Hellhammer, early Paradise Lost, supported us, the zines and mags that Autopsy etc.. have featured us, the people who have came to our shows and watched "Doom Metal of Death" - who us live. coined the phrase? I guess it has to Ride Upon The Wings Of differ from "Doom Death Metal" Armageddon...... A New Storm Is which conjures up a different sound Looming On The Horizon. to me... @K: I coined this phrase as I wanted to set us apart from the death/doom https://facebook.com/windsofgenocidecrust bands out there that are basically death metal bands with some slow parts here and there whereas we have mostly traditional doom metal style The band first rose out of a rotten riffs with a few Frostian and deathly grave in early 2011 initially with the parts with morbid growled/screamed sole intention of playing a heavy evil vocals but as I have stated in the past sounding hybrid of doom metal and if you put clean sung vocals over the death metal but we soon put the majority of our riffs on both albums it emphasis on DOOM rather than would just sound like traditional doom death, musically at least but kept the metal. vocals morbid and deathly. You're a big fan of Hammer films - So far we have had 2 albums released, I guess this is why soundbites feature both via the Spanish underground in the albums? What specifically deathcult Memento Mori, namely prompted you to add them in? "Ritual Death And Funeral Rites (2013) and "Ceremonies Of Morbidity" @K: Yes I am a HUGE fan of the old (2016). Hammer horror films and it was my idea to incorporate the samples from Who would you say are the band's various films into our music and major influences?

recordings, although actually on the atmosphere of the songs...those old 2nd album there is only 1 sample from Hammer films have such a cool creepy a Hammer film namely "Twins Of and sinister atmosphere too so they Evil"(1971) but on our first album ALL were perfect to combine with our own 6 samples before and after songs dark foreboding sinister morbid were taken from Hammer films ("The atmosphere. Plague Of The Zombies" 1966 and On the subject of Hammer Films - "The Devil Rides Out"). there's a lot of hate out there for I wanted to create a dark sinister Scars of Dracula... care to agree or atmosphere and the inclusion of such disagree? samples really enhances the

@K: I personally love that film, 14 and a half minutes long! That is our especially the scene where the morbid doom/death "Rime Of The vampire bats invade the church and Ancient Mariner"! start attacking and slaughtering the Who drew the band's logo? God-fearing villagers, that is so sinister...awesome scene, awesome @K: An Italian guy called Cristian film with a great creepy atmosphere. Barbieri. There was another logo he To me that is REAL HORROR, a church drew before the one we use but I full of people attacked and killed by thought it was too death metal bloodthirsty vampire bats! looking so he drew a new one which suits us perfectly!. I've not used any samples from the film on an Uncoffined album yet but There was a 3-year hiatus now it has got me thinking about between live performances - why using a couple samples from "Scars Of was this? Dracula" on our 3rd album as one new @K: Various personal issues song is called "They Leave Their concerning some members prevented Coffins At Night" so some samples us from playing live from May 2015 from that film would be perfect! until March 2018. The songs are epic in terms of Then we did 3 shows in a week after 3 length - is this a factor when it comes years of not playing live at all, the first to deciding what songs are to go onto one being at Dreadfest in Leeds which albums, in terms of technical was a great show/fest. capability of the record mastering process? You've mentioned about the possibility of performing the full @K: We just write how we write, no 'Ceremonies of Morbidity' (second pre planning as such, for example we album) in full at some point, didn't intend for each song on the 2nd complete with footage of films and album "Ceremonies Of Morbidity" to other props. Do you think this will be over 10 minutes long and for the happen any time soon? album to be 60 minutes in total length thats just how it turned out, we were @K: Probably’s not... maybe within writing and before we knew it we had the next 10 years sometime, if we do 5 epic songs including the longest we that it has to be done properly to have written so far, the 2nd track achieve the full atmosphere including "Plague Of The Uncoffined" which is burning black candles, stage fog, old horror film footage projected onto the @K: I wouldn't expect a re-release of screens behind us, all the horror the debut album on CD for quite some samples from the album, a decent time... same regarding further vinyl sized stage, and a 60 minutes slot time presses. I think the label who did the at least. I'd LOVE to play the album in vinyl version (Dark Recollections its entirety though. There are still 3 Productions in Mexico) still have songs on that album that have never copies of the vinyl version of "Ritual been played live yet. Death And Funeral Rites".

Would you ever consider adding a I took the last 8 copies the label had in symphonic aspect to the band's live stock of the album on CD, those will performance to add more only be available at future live shows. atmosphere? Even if it's a backing As work is about to start on the track, recorded perhaps? third album, when do you think this @K: It depends, if it sounds suitably could be ready for release? morbid and darkly atmospheric @K: Who knows... the ways of doom enough then it could work. Some are slow. We are still in the early eerie keys perhaps or gloomy phases of writing album #3, so it will violin...but we would only use such take some time. aspects sparingly...if ever. Do you have any labels in mind for Is there a possibility to take the the release of the third album? theatrics further and introduce costumes perhaps? @K: Yes. But I can't say anything more. @K: No there are plenty of bands who do that and who do it well. You can How is the doom metal scene in create a great doomy and gloomy the North East of England or indeed atmosphere without going onstage in the UK? hoods and robes... that has been @K: North East of England it is not too overdone already. good, a few bands playing

Are there plans for the first album doom/doomy stuff locally, most of to be re-released on CD or indeed which I am involved with! vinyl, as stocks run out of the initial In the UK as a whole, it is a lot releases? healthier with bands such as Iron Void, Witchsorrow, Serpent Venom,

Monolith Cult to name a few playing EP from being finished so far, the great doom how it should be done. guitars and bass still need tracking properly and it needs to be There’s too many drone "doom" and mixed/mastered. So, it is still a work in stoner type bands in this country progress. though...death to false doom! Where did you record it? https://www.facebook.com/uncoffineddoom @K: We tracked the drums/vocals / guide guitars at Downcast Base HQ Studio in Newcastle with an old friend of mine Phil Davies. The guitars/bass are due to be recorded in a home You've said the band takes its studio environment. inspiration from the likes of Morgion, Mourning Beloveth, early My Dying Are there new songs being written Bride, Thergothon and Evoken - now or are you concentrating on your which would you say is the more (many) other projects first? influential out of those? @K: No. The focus is finishing the EP @K: The music and vocals is a mix of as well as other bands. old early-mid 90's Peaceville style Doom/Death and Evoken/Thergothon How did your debut gig go style Funeral Doom Death. The vocals supporting Horrified? are mostly growled with some clean sung vocals in the vein of Mourning @K: Very good! We played well, the Beloveth. sound was great and we got a very good response from those in You're still busy recording / attendance. finishing the debut EP 'As the Light is Extinguished' - how did that go or has It felt good to finally take the songs it not entered the recording phase we had been rehearsing for months just yet? out of the rehearsal room environment and on a stage in front of @K: The EP is still only partially people. recorded and hasn't been finished yet due to various reasons, I tracked the It was great, personally, to play drums and vocals to guide guitars Trillians, a venue I have wanted to months ago but personal play a gig at since the early 90's so it issues/priorities have prevented the was good to tick that off my bucket For example, I could envisage you list that night too! doing say Enshroudment and Nine Altars or Uncoffined in a single gig After a long time not doing clean- but would that be too much for you? sung vocals, were there any last- minute nerves before hitting the @K: No not at all. I'd be totally up for stage? that.

@K: No as I had been rehearsing the Would you say that the nature of vocals whilst drumming at rehearsals the Doom/Death genre lends itself for some months prior to the gig. The more to the old-school (now enjoying vocals went well at the gig. a resurgence) vinyl rather than the too-clean CD format? Do you see any difficulties performing perhaps with your other @K: I think it sounds great on both bands on the same bill or is the vinyl and CD. It all depends how it is prospect of doing 'double-bubble' not recorded really. If it was recorded in a an issue or perhaps mutually- more earthy, organic way then it will exclusive? sound like that regardless of the format it is on. @K: I would have no problem pulling double duty at a gig as long as there What do you think of the limited- was a break in-between the bands I run tape editions that some bands was playing with. (more notably black metal) are doing? Is that something that you think is a viable format or is the music more important rather than authentically early-mid 80's sounding physical sales of releases? as well as the music, riffs and vocals and judging by a lot of feedback and @K: It is great to see cassette tapes reviews the album received we making a comeback. Limited edition tape runs are cool in my opinion. achieved that. We actually rejected There’s still only a limited market for the first mix as it sounded a bit too such a format compared to other polished and modern, so I sent the formats. studio guy Neil some albums from the early-mid 80's as pointers to how we wanted the mix to sound and he nailed it in my opinion. It helped that Lucifer's Chalice was conceived in my we recorded it as organically and mind back in 2010, I had the band natural as possible too, totally live name and musical/lyrical direction without click tracks, metronome drum and vision in my head already as early triggers etc... We let the raw live as that but due to various reasons, energy flow in the studio. being so active and busy with both Did the recording studio assist in Winds of Genocide and Uncoffined getting that specific feel to the mix? being 2 reasons it took until late 2015 to officially form the band with other @K: Yes, see my answer above, but people and become active and make I/we had a STRONG input in how the my initial vision become a sinister end result came out. reality. You've stated you'd had no end of How did this band come about? people bothering you about the What was the catalyst for it? occult via the band's inbox - do you have any interesting or horrifying @K: A mutual love for early-mid 80's stories you'd care to divulge? heavy metal and the dark and sinister side of life, history and folklore. @K: Hah... just some idiots who think we are an online cult of some kind and You took great pains in re-creating who want advice on the black arts, the 1908s feel to the debut EP. Was summoning specific demons and how that an important aspect of the to perform a black mass etc... it’s whole concept? nowhere near as bad as what the @K: Yes, very much so. We wanted band Satan get on their Facebook the mix and overall sound to be page... that is fucking hilarious! So many comments from people who are technical drumming...I wanted to clearly not there for the music! improve my overall stamina as a drummer too, this can only be Do you think it's time for another achieved by solely focusing on New Wave of NWOBHM? drums/drumming. @K: It already began some years ago! I've enjoyed just focusing on the There’s quite a few younger/newer drums live and at rehearsals although bands playing more traditional / 80's I wrote the majority of the lyrics and sounding heavy metal these days. worked closely on the vocals with Fuck the party metal and fuck the Charlie. Christian heavy metal shit though. Heavy Metal is the devil's music. Where have you played so far?

This is one band where you don't @K: Only locally, hopefully we can partake in the vocals - why was that? spread our blackened wings of evil further in the future. @K: Because I wanted to focus on drums and improve/challenge myself What bands would you most like as a drummer which I think I did as to support, given a chance? the drum tempos are generally faster @K: Witchfinder General circa than in Uncoffined and there’s more 1982/'83, Angel Witch, Iron Maiden,

Pagan Altar, Venom(Inc), Cirith Ungol, @K: Both. He is very much an integral Omen, Witchfynde, Mercyful Fate, and fully-fledged member of this band King Diamond, Judas Priest, now...in Uncoffined he is a live Pentagram, Candlemass to name a member for the forseeable future. It is few. great to have such a talented bassist in a few bands I am involved with. How did the deal with Shadow Kingdom come about? Are there plans for vinyl at all? @K: I sent them our Bandcamp link @K: Not at the moment, but hopefully with a message saying we were it will happen sometime in the future. looking for a label to release "The This kind of music was made for vinyl Pact" physically and label boss Tim and cassette tape formats! replied promptly expressing his When can we expect to see your interest and before we knew it we had next album/EP? agreed a deal for Shadow Kingdom to release both CD and Tape formats of @K: When the time is right and we the album as well as digitally. Tim has are ready to enter the studio to been great to work with, very conjure up more sinister heavy metal enthusiastic and easy to communicate darkness. We are working on new with. material. One new song titled "Thunderous Cloven Hooves" is I see 'The Pact' was released on already completed. cassette, too. What do you think of the resurgence of this very-much-old- Being very much an "80s homage" school format? band - if that's a phrase at all - do you think that can be constricting at all or @K: I think it is awesome, I never ever is there plenty of material that can be stopped listening to cassette tapes offered before you consider the personally and have always owned avenue fully-explored? cassette tape players. @K: There’s plenty to be explored I still listen to a lot of tapes, I prefer within the confines of 80's metal. The listening to our album on tape! musical inspiration is boundless...as is Your bassist, Dan, is also in a few occultism. of your other bands - is this for recording purposes or in live performances also? https://www.facebook.com/luciferschalice

Uncoffined. A permanent bassist is still yet to be found and decided on.

This band has been described by Along with Enshroudment and yourself as pure Candlemass/Solitude Thronehammer, you're going to do Aeturnus/Sorceror/Saint Vitus/ clean-sung vocals for Nine Altars - has Revelation/early Sabbath worship. Is that been a challenge in any way for it going to be like (in approach) any of these bands because of the similar to that of Lucifer's Chalice, extended growling in your other where you strive to recreate that bands? same atmosphere of these bands, @K: No, my clean sung singing voice is including recording style? still in fine working order, I have been @K: It will be very much traditional doing normal sung vocals at home for heavy doom metal in the purest sense a while to keep my singing voice in and in the vein/style of the bands shape and I personally think it sounds mentioned above with clean sung better than ever, that probablys has vocals. There will be obvious something to do with quitting smoking influences from those bands. 10 years ago... I seem to have a wider vocal range these days than I did in What part of Durham's ancient history does the band take its name the Blessed Realm days. from? Which labels would you like to @K: The Chapel Of The Nine Altars in offer any release(s) to? Do you have Durham Cathedral. I always thought any in particular in mind? Nine Altars would make a great name @K: Yes. But that will not be disclosed for a doom band so I am glad I finally at this moment in time, but we will get the chance to use it for such a shop the full debut studio recording band! around to labels aswell as post 1 preview/promo track online when the Is there a full lineup that can be disclosed now or is it still very much a recording is finally done. work-in-progress? Are we going to see more vinyl or @K: Two guitarists are involved, cassettes even on offer do you think? Charlie from Lucifer's Chalice / @K: Hopefully...time shall tell. Enshroudment and Nicolete the current live lead guitarist for I'm going to guess here that the songs are not going to be short and sweet by any stretch of the imagination - is that the case? @K: You are correct. The first song we How did the offer of doing vocals have written for Nine Altars clocks in for Thronehammer come about? at just under 15 minutes of TRUE @K: Stuart West the guitarist HEAVY DOOM METAL! approached me via a message on Are you writing riffs in your usual facebook saying their vocalist couldn't way (humming the tune to guitarists commit so was leaving the band and etc) or are you taking up an would I be interested so I asked him to instrument with which to send me some material, I loved it and demonstrate what you wish them to agreed to get onboard! be? Myself and Stuart were going to do a @K: A mix of both humming my voice doom band together 10/11 years ago recording ideas and playing my riff so it is great that we are finally ideas very basically on guitar. My involved in a band with each other guitar playing skills are very limited! now! That is frustrating as I have SO MANY Are you planning on doing any riff ideas, but I always have been able gigs for them? In terms of logistics is to get my point across about how I that going to be tricky? want the riffs to sound @K: Yes. Hopefully in 2019. With the How have rehearsals gone thus rest of the band being based in far? Germany it will make touring easier @K: Very well - everyone is gelling overall. It has been discussed so I great and we are writing some great hope some live activity will happen doom metal! with myself fronting Thronehammer. After the split 10 inch with Lords of Solitude are there any other https://www.facebook.com/Nine-Altars- recordings to be done in the near 568015656905975 future and if so, will you be assisting with the songwriting at all? @K: Yes, a full-length album titled "Usurper Of The Oaken Throne" will follow the split 10"(which is out VERY

SOON via The Church Within Records Some people may become in Germany). Recording/tracking for confused that Winds of Genocide was the album begins in September. a Death Metal band (clearly, it's not) - Expect some sludgey heavy riff filled how will this band be different? DOOM! @K: Winds Of Genocide is a crust I write the lyrics and come up with the punk band heavily influenced by old vocal lines, I leave the school death metal, this new band will riff/music/songwriting and structures be 100% Death Metal! PURE DEATH! to Stuart and Tim Schmidt (bass and drums in the studio). It's going to full-on Swedish Death in style - any obvious influences here? @K: That is the current plan. I dare say Nihilist, Early Entombed, Grave, Early Unleashed, Dismember will be big influences but there will no doubt be some non-Swedish influences involved but the plan is to put the emphasis on grinding heavy early https://www.facebook.com/thronehammer Swedish style death metal. In terms of band members, are there any from your other projects This is very much the latest band that are involved? you've wanted to start - how far @K: No. That makes a change, haha! along is this at present?

@K: Not very haha, still in its very formative stages, hopefully rehearsals will begin soon. With so much output going on, do you think it would be worth actually Are there plans for starting setting up your own recording label or rehearsals or perhaps song-writing distro to or is it the distribution soon? channels that other labels have that is @K: Yes. ASAP. more appealing?

@K: No, I'd rather just focus on the ups and downs, every band has them music and leave the other side of due to various reasons as long as it things for labels to deal with who can keeps being enjoyable and productive take care of that side of things much that is the main thing. more effectively and efficiently than I Transitioning from male to female was could. a big obstacle to initially overcome as Do you see yourself embracing say both a person and vocalist for definite digital channels such as Bandcamp and my old doom band Blessed Realm etc to get your product out there to actually split up because of it and at the masses without having to worry one point I wondered if I would ever about all of that logistics? be in a band again and if I'd find band members who would accept me as my I already embrace Bandcamp as both true self and as a transwoman Lucifer's Chalice and Uncoffined have fronting a band, obviously I did further pages/profiles on there. You can't down the line which I am so happy beat a physical product overall though about! In those early days of but having digital formats available is transitioning I could only dream of important these days too. fronting a band as a female...but that How many other bands apart dream came true, in a BIG WAY! from these 9 covered do you think What advice do you have for you have left in you that need to be anyone wanting to start up a band - born? new or resurrected? @K: Who knows... I have enough to @K: Stay true to yourself, don't follow keep me occupied musically at the trends. moment though! Is there anyone you wish to say Have you come up against any "hello" to or thank? real obstacles in your career as a vocalist or band member that needed @K: Thanks to you, Paul, for the real determination to overcome? interviews and support and everyone else out there who has supported @K: Just the usual bad luck and myself, the music I am involved with frustration when things are not going and my various bands. It is very much as you would like or with members appreciated! Check out my various leaving and dealing with line up bands webpages. Good luck with the changes but being in a band has its zine!

Photo courtesy of Will Binks Photography

STILL BURNING! Anderson on Drums. We were originally a four piece and Mo played rhythm guitar and handled vocal duties. We started gigging around 1976 once we had acquired enough gear, we used our early gig money to buy a PA and then, in 1977, a van as both Mo and I could now both drive. I knew a guy at work in Hebburn Dock (Swan Hunter Shipbuilders) who knew someone who was getting rid of a van, so Mo and I went around to his house and bought it for £60 quid - it needed a bit of work, but it was an absolute bargain this became Billy the Bedford. In an interesting twist of fate, the guy I knew at work was Vince High who would later become our singer. What was the main driving force behind you guys getting together? Was there a particular band you all saw perhaps? @J: In 1974 Pete Melsom and I were Tell us a bit about yourselves, for both into Led Zeppelin in Black those who don’t know about the Sabbath and we had a 'bedroom band' band because they’ve been under a where we would go to each other’s rock for over 40 years. parents’ houses and 'play' and dream. @J: The history of Mythra is well When Mo came to our school in 1975 documented, but, in essence, Mo we formed a band called Zarathustra (Maurice Bates) and I (John Roach) which quickly became Mythra. Mo formed the band in 1975 at school with Pete Melsom on bass and Kenny

was into Humble Pie but together we gracious to mention in an interview really shifted each other into another that we were the only band that gear and became motivated to play turned him down..... hahaha. We seriously. For me, the band that didn't turn him down, so I don't know caught my attention was Axe and who he asked. It was great for him to another local band called Warbeck. mention us at all. These guys were strong local rock Have there been any other bands bands and by watching them we were that have cited you as an influence? able to see how it could be done. Axe went on to become Fist after we @J: I'm not aware of any other bands released Death and Destiny. that have said they were influenced by us - but I've become aware of a lot I think I'm right in saying you've of bands who say they are influenced been quoted by Metallica as an by us now. influence? Is that right? Can you describe your gigs to @J: Yes, although we don't have as big those who were unlucky not to have a claim as other bands. It turns out seen you originally (myself included that Lars wanted to include Death and as I was deemed too young to go at Destiny on a compilation he put out the time)? but couldn't get permission. He was

@J: When we were younger every gig played in a lot of working men’s clubs was better than the last - we invested but we also noticed that there were a all of our gig money back into the lot of kids who just couldn't get into band, so our backline and PA was those places, so we started to getting better all the time. Added to promote our own shows. that we used to take our own We tried to copy the Upstarts by using supporters to gigs with us in the van. the Bollingbroke Hall but the council One of these guys was Lou Taylor, he had stopped renting out that venue. was obsessed with light shows and They suggested we use Boldon Lane bought a load of lighting equipment Community Centre, so we did. These and we used to pick him up in the van gigs have become legendary, not least on our way to gigs and every gig there because someone associated with the was more lights, more pyrotechnics. band decided to take photos of the We were very lucky to have Lou audience as the reaction was pretty around as the light show very much wild. I would personally like to thank whoever it was - it was my camera as I set us apart from everyone else. We have the negatives but it wasn't me as headlining the first show in Glasgow - I was playing. we went down much better than we should have. The fans were awesome. You played a few shows with We were booked to support Ted Hellenbach - was there ever any Nugent but Wild Horses put up more thoughts about doing a full tour with money for the tour than us ('buy-ons' them perhaps or was there a friendly were very common in those days) our competition between you that meant management weren't able to raise that could never happen? more money so that was that we were @J: Hellenbach supported us at the off the tour. last of the Boldon Lane gigs. I I remember buying 'Death and remember we pooled our equipment to make a larger PA and after their set Destiny' EP when it first came out in Callers at The Nook in South Shields. they wanted to take their gear away - When that was recorded, the process which was a bit naughty, anyway they didn't. was a lot different to what it is now - which do you prefer? The old Kev has always been a great guy and is analogue or new digital way of still a good friend of ours. I haven't recording? seen Jimmy for years and I was extremely saddened to hear that Dave @J: Very interesting question, I prefer Patton, a fantastic guitarist, is very ill. the analogue process of recording the songs with a live band - nowadays that If there had been an opportunity to means recording everything live with tour with Hellenbach, I'm sure that the intention of capturing the very both bands would have leapt at it. I best drum tracks then replacing the can imagine the arguments about who guitar tracks and finally adding solos would go on first....hahahaha.... and vocals. The digital medium is Which big name bands did you much more convenient than tape but support originally? to capture the very best of the energy and essence of the tracks overdubs @J: We supported Saxon and and repairs should be kept to a Motorhead, there was also plans to minimum. I think if there are too support Ozzy on the Blizzard of Ozz many edits the sound seems to tour in 1980 - but Ozzy cancelled the disappear from the recording. It's early dates stating that his new band important to remain disciplined and weren't ready and we ended up record as quickly and accurately as possible - this was how we did it in the Is there any more unreleased 1970s and early 80s. It is too easy now material that will see the light of day to set up a recording studio in a spare at any point? I'm thinking potential room in your house. Record tapes of gigs, demos or practices everything into a laptop and release maybe? an album. There is nothing to beat @J: All of the early Mythra stuff has writing in a rehearsal room, recording been compiled into the Death and as a band and getting the hell out as Destiny LP released on British Steel quickly as possible. When we and subsequently re-released as recorded Still Burning we deliberately Warriors of Time: The Anthology on went to Poland so there was an Skoll Records. There is an album of intensity to the album, time pressure material that Vince High and I and a band living together created the recorded as demos in 2001 called The vibe. Darkener which has not been released and will probably never see the light incidents between punks/skins and of day as we are moving on musically metallers that you recall? and thematically. There are live @J: Vince has often claimed that recordings of our reunion gig at there was a close bond between Punk Brofest #3 and Up the Hammers in and Metal - but he was married with a Athens in 2017 - we might release young family and didn't go out on the some of these recordings as 'give lash like the rest of us so missed a lot aways' at some point. of the rivalry between the two That iconic picture of you guys on subcultures. I think it’s easy to get what I think is a crane arm, used in confused about these things. I worked Sounds for their interview with you - with Mond guitarist with the Angelic where was that taken? Upstarts and Vince knew Mensi as they lived very close to each other. @J: The crane was parked near However, there was no love lost Vince's house on Green Lane near between fans. There was often Simonside. I wasn't on that photo as I trouble (beer-fuelled fights) in South left Mythra (after 5 years) in early Shields at weekends. Pete, Mo and me 1980. My job as lead guitarist was used to hang out together when we taken on by Mick Rundle. weren't gigging. We played an Same question for the Death and interesting gig in South Shields in 1979 Destiny single - was that the bridge at the Shoreline - a local nightclub. over the Westoe pit rail lines by the Our agent booked us to fill in for a cemetary? band who cancelled at the last minute. Saturday night disco in South @J: Yes, the bridge is still there - I Shields with a new metal band playing wrote three of the Death and Destiny a mixture of Sabbath, UFO and EP tracks but didn't get on a photo of original material was not a good gig. the band for the cover - I'm not sure At the end of our set a very notorious what Mick thought of all that but I'm local hardman with extremely close pretty sure he wasn't bothered. ties to the Angelic Upstarts advised us Being around at the same time as never to play in South Shields again. The Angelic Upstarts and given that Where was your first gig? How there could be subculture rivalry back many turned up? then (when crossover fans were in a tiny minority), were there any @J: The first Mythra gig was at St Hilda's youth club in South Shields, we

were a four piece with Mo singing. I Mythra back together for Brofest #2. remember it being packed and all of He contacted me and I got in touch ended up with girlfriends hahahaha... with Vince. We met at my house and oh, the rock and roll life....hahaha agreed to try out and see if it was doable. That was on a Wednesday What ignited your interest in evening in August - 3 days later I was reforming and doing shows (as well involved in a cycling accident which as new album)? resulted in me being taken to hospital @J: Credit where it is due, Mo was requiring surgery for a smashed asked by Stuart Bartlett if he could get shoulder, I still have the nerve damage and steel plates. So we ended the last few year. Those who are still up doing Brofest #3 the following with us from the beginning, those who year. It was Mo who got everything got the Metallica references and those going, he contacted Alex Perry who who are just getting into us now. We was in Mythra at the end after Mick are truly blown away. Rundle. Pete Melsom wasn't One last thought from John interested and neither was Barry Hopper so Mo asked Phil Davies of @J: We were all gutted when Vince Downcast Studios to play drums. decided that he wanted to leave. In any band there are tensions and Now that Vince is leaving the Mythra is no exception. The key to band, what are the plans for a survival is to retain a sense of humour replacement vocalist and indeed and to focus those tensions on what future albums etc? makes us better. @J: Well, Vince has left and we have Mythra were being asked to travel been rehearsing with a new vocalist further and for longer and Vince and we're about to make an decided that he wanted to commit announcement. We are always writing less to the band and more to his and there are plans to record new family. We had all spent a lot of time material later this year. together - late night discussions, plans Is there anyone out there that and ambitions so we understood the you'd like to take the time out to reasons behind Vince’s decision. thank? Trying to make long term plans in the music industry is a bit like wishful @J: Yes, I'd like to thank Bart Gabriel thinking but you have to believe. of Gabriel Management for the continued support, I'd also like to We all still believe that there is a thank Thorsten and Stefan and at High future for Mythra - not just a legacy. Roller Records. I'd like to thank Jarvis, Armo and Dusty from Night Demon and all the Cirith Ungol guys for their https://www.facebook.com/mythranwobhm friendship and support.

I'd like to thank all of the promoters who have contacted us but mostly I'd like to thank all of the people who http://www.mythra.co.uk have followed and supported us over

Blackened CRUST! ‘punk paranoia’. There’s some damn fine samples and effects on there, I’m still proud of it 3 years later really. The album received the most amount of press that any Hellbastard album has ever done to date. The reviews were thick and fast and almost everything said & written was done so in a positive light. The usual UK glossies and what have you ignored us but we’re used to that. Whatever. No big deal is it. If it wasn’t for the fact of trying to keep a stable line up together for more than a week, there would have been another TWO albums out by now…. either 2 albums or at least 1 album and 1 E.P. Sigh… There has been some controversy around your on-stage fire breathing. For those who have lived under a rock, can you give us the full story It's been 2 years since the last around that episode? interview with you. How is life? @S: Sometimes just watching a band @S: Well, for some it is worse than it go through a setlist with bass, guitars, is for others as you know. I won’t drums & vocals can get pretty stale ramble on and on about ‘the bigger very quickly, unless of course you love picture’, but oh boy, oh boy, are the the band you’re watching /or they are times a-changin’. managing to keep your attention How has 'Feral' been received? I because they might just be an personally thought it was one of your awesome live band. I can’t remember best works since HFID… when I started doing it, but it quickly @S: Thank you. There was an instant became a ‘usual’ thing you know. where I thought it was being ‘over- Anyway, onto the Rebellion Festival produced’, but I think that was just fiasco. Hmmm well, prior to the event

I had sent advertising posters my and playing around 4-5 songs the friend had made for me, one of which security team were onstage and included a colour snapshot of myself motioning for us to stop playing. They spitting fire in Poland some years ago escorted us offstage and eventually to the organiser of Rebellion Inc. into the street. It was a rush because Heard nothing back, thought “ok they we had a lot of gear in there and obviously know the band has a touch needed to organise that. of pyro” didn’t think about it again, no Our drummer’s wallet went missing big deal you know. and our merch guy was also asked to We tried playing and doing our thing get lost and was subsequently thrown as per and after some sound problems out onto the street with the merch.

That was it, basically. I think I did 2 mention the band that were to follow shameful really crappy spits of us from USA. It was a shame for those paraffin flames and it was just stale, people you know. They closed the you know, like lighting a few matches whole arena down and that was the in the arctic, it was just bland. end of any music in that part of the festival that night. Obviously, security let us play up to 4- 5 songs after that until they had Such a shame, the following bands communication with how to treat the could have easily played. I apologised incident. It was a shame as we had to the band that were supposed to that arena packed out, and a lot of follow us but I don’t think they people were unhappy about it, not to understood the whole situation, they had to play the next day & that really did the same; they told social media should NOT have been the case, there but not the band. was no mess to clean up. I took my These band members walked into bottle of paraffin off the stage. Still Hellbastard and within a few months don’t understand why they did that. were playing large festivals across Spitting fire is something I have been Europe and the UK, you’d think they doing for over 35 years - no one has would have appreciated that. One of ever been injured and nothing has which after Rebellion Fest ever been burnt down or something disappeared and took all our merch like this. It is different, I like that. with them - we finally got it back, at a Apart from Killing Joke and Alice price. Cooper I don’t know anyone else that We even spent band money kitting does it live onstage. It’s fun and it out one of these guys so he had his looks mental in semi-darkness. I think own equipment at last, and adding I only started doing it out of insult to injury he and various friends temporary boredom when playing of his demanded it be returned to a live. Anyway, Rebellion have still not certain place at a certain time or else issued a reason why they did what the Police would be informed that we they did that night. We never got paid were guilty of theft (!!?!?!?!?) either. We gave them ‘their’ gear back and The fallout from that incident thought ‘fuck this, it’s not worth the meant you were left pretty much hassle’….but it wasn’t good enough, without a band. How did you get it obviously. Torrents of bitching and together again with Jude and Jake childish posts appearing on Facebook, from Acid Age prior to the intended sigh. Fucking boring. Shame. Still tour only a few weeks or so later? trying to figure that one out myself, @S: That incident left myself and hahahahah. Anyway, we had a tour drummer Jon ‘Rushie’ Rushforth, then lined up a few weeks later and a good after Rebellion someone messaged friend of ours in Belfast (Christopher me and made me aware of something Owens) put me in touch with Jake and that had been put on social media - Jude from Acid Age. They said they’d our other guitar player had quit. Citing like to come and make sure the tour lots of reasons that confused me, I goes ahead as planned - and they did. thought ‘Why tell social media’ and not the band? Then the bass player

Jude and Jake went above and beyond Panzerbastard were supposed to the call of duty. Both are professional be co-headlining with you on that musicians, they have been playing a tour weren't they? What happened long time. They had less than ONE so that they couldn't come? WEEK to learn the setlist and they @S: I’m afraid you would have to ask actually did it in 4 days or so, then we head honcho Mr Bennett that met in London and played the first question - It was truly a huge shame date of the UK tour at Chimpyfest, we and I put so, so, so much work into were in rehearsal before this in Surrey organising that tour 2nd time around. and they just blew us away. It was an I do know that apparently it was out amazing day. I certainly could not of their hands and could not come have accomplished what they did in 4 here. The whole band were really days - sitting learning a setlist - it was looking forward to that tour. The last quite surreal. one we did in 2012 (2011?) was really The thing about Jude and Jake is this - a great tour. A few shows cancelled they are both really lovely honest guys but re-instated when the promoters that look into your eyes when you talk realised that PB are not a far-right to them, there’s no hidden agendas, political sloganeering band. They’re a they love the music and love touring. rock ‘n’ roll band through and After our very first rehearsal in through, and lovely people to boot. London the same day as Chimpyfest I told our (then) drummer Jon that I How did that tour go? wasn’t interested in trying to find @S: Hmmmm mixed feelings on that band members - we had 2 guys right tour. Certain haters put the boot in by there that were MORE than suitable. having our Birmingham show Jude and Jake appreciate ALL forms of cancelled, then the Sheffield show music too, which is very refreshing to cancelled too. This stems from me. They’re hugely into their metallic nothing more than jealousy and sounds but also love funk and the bitchiness. Ultimately, these two avant-garde which says a lot for their shows cancelled lost US money and understanding of dynamics and doing THAT to a touring band is musicianship. unforgivable. I could name the names but what is the point? What’s done is done and time to move on really.

Some dates were better than others, Drinking piss by accident. Oh my, the Jude & Jake were faultless to a TEE. list could go on and on… They really enjoyed it. It was a total Anyway, straight after the tour I pleasure being with them both and ended up in hospital with the dreaded our excellent driver Pat Carolan “Quinzy”, I have had one before and it (Carolan Transport) I think we just really is a fucking horror. could have done without all the bullshit from other people wanting to The UK for a band like Hellbastard sabotage anything they could. isn’t the best of places to tour, often times there will be no food offered There are many stories we could tell from promoters, not even a beer from that tour - maybe Jake or Jude each, let alone a place to sleep. will tell you more, but I’ll mention some words instead of full cohesive At one point in 1989 we swore we’d sentences just so that you can grab never play the UK again, it just wasn’t the gist - Cockroaches, Drunk, Asleep, worth the hassle. I saw to it that we Pink Sugar, Pink toilet bowl, Pink toilet broke that rule and as I sit here typing paper, Pink walls and Pink carpets. this I wonder why I did that. With the exception of some top-class promoters and venues mostly the UK Our resident nutter, Ernie Hell- is a sad place to tour. Welly, has asked: "Postman Pat or Fireman Sam?” Now that Jude and Jake have become permanent members, when @S: Neither, it HAS to be the can we expect to see the next wonderful gorgeous mega talented Hellbastard album released? lady and band that are like refreshing @S: We have already began work on lemon-zest in a sea of mediocrity, the it. It is sounding great at this point in amazing KOVACS. ‘demo-stage’, there’s a long way to go and we finally signed a new record deal - so I would say expect a new album at some point in 2019. You're touring Europe this October, but no plans for any UK gigs - when can we expect to see you back here again? @S: We're in Europe for just over 2 weeks in October with our friends 'INSURGENCY'. We play 3 -5 shows in November/December in the UK. The dates will be advertised nearer the And to sign off, Scruff has a few time. I think the next London more words of wisdom for all of us: appearance is already being @S: Get a rescue dog, or cat, have sex advertised. by all means but try not to make more What have you learned since our humans - we need a cull. Hail the last interview? angry mighty riff. Sincerely, Scruff, @S: Some people are not what they Jake, Jude, John, Warren. Hellbastard appear to be. You can put a certain 2018. amount of trust and time into a Pics courtesy of Alistair Richmond Photography and Will relationship and expect to be treat by Binks Photography. people how you treat them, then when that is betrayed it comes as a https://www.facebook.com/hellbastardofficial shock but nevertheless an important lesson is learned. A SOULSIDE JOURNEY! Edinburgh. Our first CD was recorded with 9 tracks at Downcast Studio and got a good reception. Then due to circumstances Goldie and Bruce left. Shaun came in then Andy and we haven’t looked back since. We entered the N.E. Metal 2 the Masses with a hope of getting through a round or two but then we only went and won the fucking thing haha. We recorded a 4 track EP at Landscape studios to hand out at Bloodstock where we played the New Blood stage. Now we’re looking to record another E.P. and play as many gigs as we can and just enjoy the ride. What inspired you to use the name of Jack Ketch? How did you discover him? @L: We were looking for something that wasn't a generic name for a Thrash or Death metal band and I was Tell us a bit about the band. talking to someone at work who just came out with it. As soon as I heard it I @L: We formed after the demise of a went fuck yes. Told the lads that band called Faceshredder. Danny and evening and they all agreed it was me were playing guitar in that band cool as fuck. and we decided to keep it going but change the style. We’re both big Your self-titled first album came thrash and hardcore fans so that’s out in 2014 - what reaction did it where we went. Goldie came in on receive? bass, Iain on Vocals and Bruce on @L: The reaction was quite good. Had drums. We wrote a set worth of a few reviews in magazines all of songs then played gigs from here to

which was positive. Looking to record The recent(ish?) EP also entitled an E.P. soon so hopefully get some SOJK was the first to feature Andy on good feedback from that too. drums - how long after the first album was this produced? Are there plans for a new album soon perhaps? @L: Yeah both the album and E.P. are @L: We’re going to continue with the self-titled. The E.P. was the first to feature Andy and Shaun and it was E.P. idea as that way we can release more often. Plus for a smaller band recorded 2 years after the album as it’s easier to shift and E.P. every 6 to we had to get the new guys up to 12 months than it is to shift a full speed with our previous material. We length every 12 to 24 months. liked the E.P. as it sounded more like our live sound. For me (lee) the first album was a little over polished.

The production is very clear on How far have you ventured out of the new EP - where did you go to the North East area? record/mix it? @L: We haven’t went too far as yet. @L: It was recorded by Richie Doney Down to Leeds, over to Dumfries and at Landscape Studios. The mix was up to Edinburgh quite a few times. actually just a quick mix to get it out Now we want to get further afield as ASAP but it was that good we left it. we’re gathering fans across the country now. You won the Metal To The Masses contest held at Trillians and got to Which band would you most like play Bloodstock - what was that like? to support or to support you going forward? @L: The final was at The Cluny and the sound was awesome. Bloodstock @L: Personally, would love to support was just a once in a lifetime The Haunted as I think our music experience (hopefully twice in a would make a great show. Or Exodus lifetime if we get asked back to play as I’m a huge Exodus fan. To support the Sophie stage). Fucking unreal us….. I’d let Exodus support us. I think standing there on that stage. Highlight they have a future in music, haha. of my musical career.

What do you think of the What are the plans for SOJK for declining market for printed, quality the remainder of the year and into metal magazines? 2019? @L: It a shame but it’s the way the @L: Record the next E.P. is priority. world is going. Now you can access so Then get out and promote it with gigs. much content at the click of a button It’s the only thing we know. or touch of a screen but for me Is there anyone out there that nothing is better than the hard copy you'd like to take the time out to experience. thank? How would you describe your @L: Everyone who has come to see us sound to someone who'd not heard and bought our music. Allan Scorer you yet? Is it fair to say it's 'Death and Kev Morris for putting us through Metal' or simply 'Metal'? the M2tM and Simon Hall for picking @L: Thrash and hardcore influenced us to play Bloodstock. Most music with a harder vocal. We’re importantly I’d like to thank the other influenced by the 80’s and 90’s bands guys in the band. I know it’s a bit musically and Iain does what he does cliché but we’re like brothers and are best which is tear your fucking face off there for each other in life as well as growls. the music. Your style lends itself to crossover and a last word from Lee: gigs with hardcore acts - which do @L: Just keep an eye out for playing you prefer to be on stage with? near you. We love playing and the @L: We do have a hardcore edge at more people that are there just drives times which gives us a bit diversity. us more. If you like your music heavy Blood ‘n Dry is a purely fast hardcore and a tight as fuck performance, come tune. Bands like Discharge and see us you’ll not be disappointed. brought hardcore and metal together during the 80’s. The styles blend well together as they’re both aggressive https://www.facebook.com/SoulsofJackKetch and high energy. Personally, I’m happy playing with either. I like to see a bit of a mixture on the bill at gigs. https://soundcloud.com/souls-of-jack-ketch DOWN AT THE DEN! the old Percy Street arcade with other like-minded people, buying posters, patches and tee shirts when my pocket money allowed it. As it was a lifestyle I knew well I decided this is what I wanted to do. After much stress, a whole load of passion and hard work Kazbat’s Den was born in April 2006. We have been dedicated to bringing the weird and wonderful to the folks of Newcastle and beyond ever since. We often get the bands in the shop who are playing the 02 Academy. Wednesday 13, The Lost Prophets and Of Mice and Men to name just a few have been in to say Hi, but having my pic taken with Zac Wilde was a huge buzz! Back in 2006 when we opened our doors we used to get in a lot of groups of Punk kids, each as individual as they could be with their multi-coloured The shop was born out of a total mohawks, Doc Martens, ripped and mental breakdown. I left my husband studded clothing who were looking for of 14 years, walked away from a job I their “Sid” belts, chokers, and loved and isolated myself from the wristbands. world. It was then I decided to go into This is the genre that has most business for myself. declined over the years and it is such a I have been a member of the shame. Our shop promotes alternative community for most of my individuality. The fashion accessories, life. Being a punk in the early 70’s jewellery, and gift wear we sell will often hanging around the Kard Bar in very rarely be found in main stream shops and we definitely cater for merch into the shop to sell, free of those who want to be different. charge, to try and help them in some way to cover their costs for travelling You will always be welcomed with a to gigs and promoting their band. smile and made to feel comfortable whilst browsing our goodies under the When we first opened the kids were sweet smell of burning incense. well into the “Emo” bands such as My With the sad demise of the Kard Bar in Chemical Romance, Blink 182 etc, December 2015 we decided to branch then came “screamo” and the new out into band merch, selling t-shirts, wave of bands such as Bring Me the Horizon, Asking Alexandria and Black patches, beanies, and other stuff, Veil Brides. covering metal, punk and rock bands which has been very successful. In 2017 we decided to ask local bands if they would like to put their own

However, always in the game are the classic rock bands of yesteryear. Bands like Slayer, Iron Maiden, ACDC and Black Sabbath who never seem to go out of “fashion”. Venues like the Mayfair were great as all the genres were together in separate rooms within the same club. You had Reggae, Ska and punk in one There are still a lot of people out there room or you could listen to classic who don’t know we exist. Those that rock in the main hall and newer music do find us for the first time are in another room. amazed at our little Aladdin’s Cave. The biggest change I think I have seen So, if you are looking for something over the years is the division of the different, band merch or just want to genres after the Mayfair closed its check us out, feel free to pop in, say doors for the last time in 1999. “Hi”. Various other venues put on their own night and each catered for their own genre. Krash was one of the first and they catered for the younger crowd which left us older folks without a club. Legends then opened their doors and their mix of classic rock, metal, punk, Ska and Reggae with a touch of the newer music popping in was a big hit with all ages. It was sad to lose it in 2013. The closure of shops like Kazbat’s is becoming ever more evident and we 102 Westgate Road, are the last remaining shop of its kind Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 4AF in Newcastle and as we are on the outskirts of the city centre. https://www.facebook.com/kazbatsden.newcastle